New houses are too small, research finds

Newly-built houses are too cramped to swing a cat, with many Britons finding
that their homes are too small to store a vacuum cleaner or the weekly food
shop, according to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

A study of people’s living spaces by RIBA found that people are going to “extreme” and “absurd” lengths to cram their belongings into their houses.

The research found that many British homes lack the storage space for basic day-to-day items, such as rubbish bins, household appliances and food.

RIBA’s report, called The Way We Live Now: What People Need and Expect from the Homes, is based on discussion groups and interviews around Britain.

The report found that some people are forced to store their vacuum cleaners at relatives’ houses a 20 minute drive away. One family admitted to keeping supermarket buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) food deals in the boot of their car because they do not have the cupboard space inside their home.

People also complained that the bedrooms in many new homes are too small and called for size regulation for rooms in newly-built properties.

RIBA said that its report, which was carried out with Ipsos Mori, is the first research into housing space since the Government-commissioned Parker Morris Committee report over 50 years ago.

Harry Rich, the chief executive of RIBA, said: “This new research provides important evidence on which we can base some changes to the way our homes are designed, delivered, marketed and sold to us.”

Ben Page, the chief executive of Ipsos Mori, said: “The research graphically shows just how cramped and poorly planned much of our housing is today, and the extraordinary lengths people go to cope with it.”

RIBA said that its report will be used as evidence by the Future Homes Commission, which is conducting an inquiry into the quality of newly built housing.